Lovely Runner

I couldn’t write this right after I finished the episode because I was overwhelmed with emotions. Funnily enough, I couldn’t stop crying despite the happy ending and the amount of fluff we received in the last episode. I don’t usually cry watching romance dramas and yet here we are.

To think that I almost missed it because I watched the first 20 minutes of the first episode right when it was released and considered dropping it and then my friend convinced me to keep watching and I did. Thank god I did.

I have never followed an ongoing drama this way before and I have been watching dramas since 2010. The moment the episode drops, I run to my PC to watch it. I read the comments, look for theories, look for edits (you should see the state of my TikTok likes and saves). I wait for the prerelease, the unreleased clip, watched the BTS, and had long hours conversations with my friend fangirling about this drama. The excitement I get before and after I watch the episodes . Lovely runner brought me so much happiness these past 2 months.

I was bound to like this drama because I love time travel stories (Twinkling Watermelon, go back couple, and someday or one day are among my favorite dramas of all time) but there was something special about lovely runner. I can’t pinpoint what is it exactly and what’s the reason it is so special to me. It is probably a combination of many things. The selfless love that Sungjae and sol shared. The little moments that hit me hard like sol moments with her mother when she couldn’t walk . The moments with her grandma. taesung and sungjae with their fathers . When sungjae couldn’t continue swimming and then finding another dream. The cinematography and the music. The little details. I can go on and on. The fact that despite the heartbreaking parts lovely runner in its core is about love and hope.

The music was amazing. They managed to make every single song meaningful and good. Sudden Shower has 10 million streams on Spotify and a million is probably from me. Honestly, the whole Eclipse album is good and I can’t forget spring snow. I cry every time I listen to it.

Now that I have seen the last episode, I find it hilarious of the amount of theories the fandom had. I thought taesung was the owner of the watch , then it was Sungjae. I am satisfied with how it ended. Thank you to the team for giving us the happy ending we wanted (until yesterday I thought that the preview was suspicious and that they were going to break our hearts because every time they gave us a happy preview the episode ended tragically).

In my eyes, it was perfect. Everything was perfect. You can tell the team behind it cherished the drama as much as we do. That’s why they were able to make such a lovely drama that I am going to treasure and will come back to. From the directors, the producers, the writer, the staff, and the actors. Byonwooseok and Hyeyeon that brought their characters to life exceptionally. When they talk about Sungjae and Sol, you can tell how much they love these characters. But really all the actors did an amazing job. I wish everyone involved a successful and happy life (TVN give them a paid vocation or something)

Thank you for the happiest 2 months. Thank you for making lovely runner.

It feels like saying goodbye to a friend. That’s why I am getting emotional again. Byeonwoosoek said that he cried after reading the script for episode 16 (granted he always cries at the end of his dramas) and I know exactly how he feels.

I am already planning to rewatch the whole show. It has secured its place among my -top comfort to watch when I am depressed- shows.

this is less of a review and more like me saying goodbye a drama so special to me.
But go watch it. it is good beyond good even. For me, it's my 2024 favorite drama. Worth all the hype. Enjoy the ride.

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An Emotional Yet Heartfelt Journey In Time That Will Leave You Mesmerized

This is my first time writing a review because I need to dump most (if not all) of my thoughts about this drama. I am not an expert nor a professional in writing reviews. What I usually do whenever I finish a movie or a drama is just rate them to my liking.

If I were to describe Lovely Runner, I would describe it in one word: PERFECT. From the casting to the storyline, everything about this drama is beautiful. I'm at a loss for words. I've never cried so much (in almost every episode) like this before. I admit that I'm not a fan of time traveling related dramas but Lovely Runner is an exception.

For Directors Yoon Jong Ho and Kim Tae Yub, as well as Writer Lee Shi Eun, I am truly and deeply grateful to all of you for creating Lovely Runner. What an awesome mind you all have! The parallels in each and every scene of this drama drives me crazy! My Mondays and Tuesdays every week were bearable all because of this drama. All of you deserve praise and recognition for all the hard work and effort you put into this drama so that it would turn out (well, for me) to be one of the best romantic comedy dramas in the history of South Korean dramas!

For Byeon Wooseok and Kim Hyeyoon, they were very good at what they do and their versatility was amazingly crazy! I'm kind of sad because I just discovered them now. This is the first drama that I watched since I barely knew them. Oh how I wish I had the chance to time travel so that I can support both of them when they were just starting in their acting career….. All I can say now is that I love them both sooo much! My words are not enough to describe how grateful I am to them for accepting this drama and bringing Ryu Sunjae and Im Sol to reality. It’s as if their roles really were meant to find them.

For Song Geonhee and Lee Seunghyub, both of them are one of the best boys ever! I cannot believe how healthy Geonhee’s role was as the second male lead, and how his role (even though he really does not exist in the webtoon) became one of the vital parts of the storyline to flow properly and harmoniously. Seunghyub’s role, on the other hand, was also one of the key roles in the people in Sunjae’s life. He was always there to support Sunjae from their high school era up to their adult (present) era. He never left Sunjae alone, and Sunjae didn’t leave him either. I must say that I love the dynamic of their friendships. It was one of the best!

For the rest of the cast and crew, I would like to say that I am grateful for all of you. Lovely Runner will never be complete without all of you. Thank you for being part of this wonderful and amazing drama. You all did a great job and I hope that all your hard work will be paid off.

As for me, I do not know when I will move from this drama. I might never get over this drama. I think my best friend and my sisters will get tired of me from never shutting up about how perfect this drama was. Watching it since last month feels like I’m in a deep slumber. It feels like I am dreaming and hoping that I will not wake up from this dream. But I need to get back to my senses since in reality, I am still a college student who has exams later and I need to study now. Hehe. That’s all for my yapping! Thank you, thank you!

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Epic Time Travel Romcom

Guys, how to say goodbye to Sun Jae and Im Sol, who I fell so hard for these past weeks. It's like the writer and PD said, how do we make the most fun hopelessly romantic kdrama and drive our viewers crazy with giddiness and agony each episode?

Name another drama where the OTP's faces are always a few inches, staring longingly at each other. This might be too much on another show, but in Lovely Runner, we craaave for it lol. Where umbrella holding for the other, is not some trite cheap kdrama move, but signifies how Sun Jae/Sol will just do anything to shield the other from pain and harm.

Let's admit, the biggest pull of this show is how dreamy (and a doofus) Ryu Sun Jae is as a whole (equipped with Byeon Woo Seok's outrageously good looks). That cast and their chemistry are gold! It's so easy to make this another typical high school drama where the girl chases the arrogant popular guy who will slowly fall for the girl. But he is such a dork, charming our socks off with his awkward confession mishaps, and all that selfless pining! And his devotion to Sol, omg, like can we clone him for the better of mankind?

Sol, is no slouch too, traversing time and space to save him. As he has always saved her, she sacrificed so much for him too. Some are getting annoyed by all the noble idiocy, but the weighty circumstances in the show warrant it, and makes such good angst!

Spoilers:
Others are maybe bothered about the latest time reset, erasing all what has happened before. But him getting intrigued by her again as strangers, tearing up from unknowingly reading his OWN tragic love story, reading the lost love song he wrote for her, falling for her again and again despite the odds. Choosing her again and again in spite of the morbid consequences. OMG, simply swoony romance at its finest.

The conclusion did feel like there was a lot of drama magic for them to get together again, but I can't complain when it gives these two the happy ending they earned, darn it. The time capsule watch does feels like a deus ex machina, but at the same time it's kind of fitting too.

Undoubtedly one of the best epic romances, kdrama has to offer. THIS is why regardless of the language barrier, we love kdramas, they know how to do romance right. How I wish I can borrow Sun Jae's time travel watch and experience this for the first time all over again. Falling for these two yet again and again.

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Not even fully out and easily took the spot of my fav drama

as of right now there is only 12 episodes out of this drama, and it’s already become my favorite drama. from the first episode it drew me in. Every episode is entertaining, there has not been one second where I was bored. The script is so unbelievably well written, it’s got me laughing, crying, angry, every emotion, which is what I NEED in a drama. the casting is perfect in my opinion… just hoping that Byron woo seok finally gets a Role where he STAYS alive LOL. It’s not even fully out and I’m already planning to rewatch with my friends, I just NEED to share this show with people. It’s so twisted and confusing and shocking and then it isn’t… this is the What makes a show so good to me because it’s constantly making me shocked because i genuinely do not know what’s going to happen next. it’s been forever since a drama has genuinely been this entertaining. The perfect show.

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Emotionally rich drama

Lovely Runner is not just a love story,it is an emotionally rich drama that delves deep into social themes, adorned with soothing songs and captivating characters like our beloved Sunjae and Sol. This series is a heartfelt journey, offering diverse perspectives on life and relationships that resonate deeply with viewers. It goes beyond mere romance, providing a multifaceted narrative that touches the soul.

Watching "Lovely Runner" as it unfolds is a truly special experience. The anticipation of each episode adds to the joy, allowing us to immerse ourselves in its beauty and depth in real-time. I'm so grateful to witness this enchanting drama during its ongoing period, cherishing every moment of its storytelling magic.

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LOVELY RUNNER - A rollercoaster of emotions and heart-stopping moments!

Lovely Runner is a masterpiece that stands out as one of the most remarkable K-dramas of 2024. With its captivating storyline, brilliant character development, and flawless execution, it takes the viewer on an emotional journey like no other.

Never compare this drama with other genres like thriller, romance, and so on because it is truly different. From episode 1, this drama presents scenes that never get boring. There is no scene that feels unnecessary. Everything is connected, one scene leading to the next..

The emotions displayed by Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok are also excellent. They’re precise and perfectly timed, showing a range of emotions. How many dramas can make you feel deeply sad one moment and then burst out laughing the next? The performances by all the cast, particularly Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok, are nothing short of outstanding, capturing the essence of their characters with remarkable depth and nuance.

As an international K-drama fan, I started watching K-dramas as early as 2001. For many years, I’ve watched various genres, and I can proudly say that LOVELY RUNNER is the best drama I’ve ever watched. The storyline doesn’t repeat, but this drama itself makes me watch it over and over again, something I’ve never done before. Usually, even if I like a drama, I will watch it at most three times, and that’s spread out over a longer period. But even six months after finishing this drama, I’m still in the phase of K-drama depression... I’ve watched it more than five times over the past six months ? Lovely Runner also captures moments beautifully. The cinematography is simply breathtaking, beautifully complementing the tone and emotions of every scene and an original soundtrack that perfectly matches the scenes.

The carefully curated original soundtrack enhances the viewing experience, with each song perfectly matched to its corresponding moment, making the drama even more memorable. You can tell which song is specifically for the male lead and which one is for the kissing scene between the two characters. All the OSTs of Lovely Runner are so pleasant to listen to. I’ve never been this fond of the entire OST of a drama before. Usually, it’s just one or two songs that catch my attention. Thank you, Lovely Runner, for having such a big impact on my life. The days I spent watching Lovely Runner were beautiful. To the haters, there’s no need to spread negativity about Lovely Runner because you’ll never understand the storyline. This is definitely not a genre you should watch ?

What truly sets Lovely Runner apart is its ability to balance heartfelt moments with light-hearted humor, making it a perfect blend of emotion and entertainment. It’s a drama that stays with you long after the final episode, proving that it is, without a doubt, the best drama of 2024 !

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One thing is for sure, you’ll want to carry SunSol and run!

Lovely runner is a cute drama, has a lot of fluff and the leads have great chemistry. This drama isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for something mature or more realistic you could skip.

I like the time loop/time slip concept. I’ve seen it in ‘The Call’, ‘365 repeat the year’ & ‘signal’ and maybe that’s why I liked this one as well.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying that 30+ year old ‘Im Sol’ doesn’t act her age. Honestly, 30 is just a number. I’ve realized that after having reported to 30+ year old managers at work who are super immature, still figuring out life yet shameless enough to advise you on how to live your life 🙄. I think Im Sol is way better, loveable and quite realistic.

This is the first drama I’ve seen Byeon Woo Seok in. I didn’t think I’d like him much, Idk how to explain this part… I guess I didn’t think he was that good looking (not hating, not sure what I was thinking, I’ve forgotten how I saw him before lovely runner) but he really grew on me. I think he is extremely charming as an actor. He is so charming that he can make you change your mind 360°. The guy can act, sing, has a presence and can make your heart flutter. Now every time I see a picture or video of him, I smile at my phone like a crazy person. Kim Hye Yoon played a similar character in Extraordinary you, which is also one of the reasons why Lovely Runner was written. She carried that drama (EY) but got very little recognition for that compared to the male leads. KHY has done well on this one as well. I think BWS and KHY have really good chemistry and shine equally in the drama. I’m glad they’re both getting the recognition they deserve.

I like the osts. I listen to Sonaki at least once a day while commuting.

This part contains Spoilers

The story itself isn’t something new. To me it feels like a collage of a few existing drama’s stories. For example, in 365 repeat the year, Nam Ji Hyun has the same disability and goes back in time to change that. The characters make you want to continue this drama more than the plot itself. I do believe some of the other characters felt a little incomplete and could’ve been explored more. Overall still a good watch.

There are 2 scenes that I didn’t like in the drama
1) The scene where Sol’s friend and brother are arguing and the kitchen is set on fire. It doesn’t make sense that they don’t smell the smoke or realize that a fire has broken out when they’re right there.
2) Sol decides to stay back at the village without a plan and deal the stalker on her own when she could’ve clearly avoided that and maybe the future would’ve eventually followed the same events that took place in the past which would’ve been better for her as she already had a plan to nab the stalker. But maybe it was her desperate attempt to break the vicious cycle of the stalker chasing her only to eventually kill Sun Jae.

A lot of people feel the stalker/killer guy had an anticlimactic ending but I kinda agree with what Kim Tae Sung says in the drama that these serial killers shouldn’t be glorified and given titles like evil, these people are simply trash. Trash doesn’t deserve a climatic ending, they deserve to be forgotten.

To conclude, I think the characters would shine even more if the story was written a tad bit better. If you’re not a budding philosopher who looks for logic and realism in everything then Lovely Runner is easy to watch, fun and leaves you with happy memories. It has a good ending and loveable characters. I wasn’t bored and this drama made me happy. Sol and Sun Jae go through a roller coaster ride to get their happy ending and you will want to carry them on your back and run.

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A mesmerising romance with a gripping storyline

CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY!!!!! How can two people have such amazing chemistry?!! They’re officially my no.1 for best chemistry, bypassing the Strong Woman DBS couple. Apart from the fact that Sol and Sunjae have good compatibility as they were written to be so, Hyeyoon and Wooseok naturally look great together. Even when just standing and doing nothing, chemistry is pouring through the screen! Whoever casted them needs a raise.

Onto the drama itself: good cinematography (camera angles/movements), great songs (especially ‘Sudden Shower’😜)

First of all, the beginning of this drama did make me wonder what wheelchair users think when watching this as it’s evident that Sol despised being one. Although I would feel the same as Sol, I felt it was a little disheartening to wheelchair users who obviously can’t go back in time and change their condition.

Some parts didn’t make sense: I understand why Sol’s initial appearance was changed (scenes were reshot in her new, modern appearance) but I also don’t think it makes sense. If those were her bangs back then, it wouldn’t suddenly grow to the new Sol’s length. Her whole wardrobe was also suddenly cute although she should’ve had granny clothes- there’s no scene showing that she bought a new wardrobe. Something else that didn’t make sense is why she left the house on the day of her accident (typical kdrama fl behaviour). Also, how could she say she’s from the future but not say things that happen in the future? It’s almost like the last few episodes (scene when she was talking to Taeseong abojt being from the future) almost forgot that she couldn’t mention stuff like that.

Having watched A Time Called You, I did feel quite sorry for 19 year old Sol. Although Sol(30s) went back in time for a valid reason, she completely changed Sol(19)’s actions which seems… unfair. Sol(19) didn’t get the chance to experience her puppy love for Taeseong, etc. Sol(30) pretty much took over Sol(19)’s freedom of choice, ruining her chance to grow and experience life at her age.

Comedic timing was perfect! So cringy but so loveable😂 Gosh, the writer lives messing with us- joseon scene, bathtub scene. Also, that sexy tune was PERFECTTTT!!! I couldn’t help but laugh every time I heard it.

Finally, I just want to appreciate how the final episode was dedicated purely to Sol and Sunjae as a couple so it didn’t feel rushed as most of the drama was based on the process of them getting together. It was refreshing to see them together at peace.

LOVELY drama! I loved each and every episode. Super bingeable! It was so good that I took a break from it so it wouldn’t finish so quickly. Hoping to see this couple again!!!💛💛

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Very entertaining watch.

This idol drama had a very good potential to be a fantastic plot-driven series. The synopsis was right up in my alley. The plot dragged out in the middle for me but the acting and the music made up for it.

I loved Im Sol, Sun-Jae and their unforgettable love story. They had good chemistry and many heart-fluttering moments between them. I'd definitely rewatch some of their interactions. Even the side characters were entertaining.

The first few episodes were fantastic. Then it dragged a few episodes. But the climax was satisfying.

Ignoring a few plot holes, some idiocy from the female protagonist and some over-the-top acting from the side characters, I would say this drama is really watchable.

P.S. Their first kiss! I simply loved it.

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A masterpiece with every detail..

The leads.. The acting.. The plot... The camera angles.. EVERYTHING JUST TOO GOOD TO BE REAL ㅠㅠ Generally if a drama has time lapse plot, it has some untied events too but THIS IS NOT (yet btw we'r at 8th ep).. I'm so in love with the plot/scenario AND OFC SUNJAE ㅠㅜ. And the supporting cast is awesome too everyone suits their role so well. You must watch it!! Lets hope that dude will stay alive this time,, it is not a want it's a NEED.



note: the character limit is weird dude thats it for me pls let me go wtdym i have to write 500 characters ahabxhqhjxıq

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775 / 5 000
I have to admit that I was worried about this series. That's because I didn't know what to expect from Kim Hye-Yoon. I saw her in Snowdrop, so I didn't know how her role would fit here in this series. Concerns were removed very quickly. The series looks good. The plot is fluid, tense, funny, entertaining but also serious and sad. The theme of time travel is not new, but the creators handled it well. The story has its own mystery and nice processing. But I have to admit that she was nervous about the last part, and I was waiting to see if there would be some twist at the end. And yes, Byeon Woo-seok charms many a woman's heart. You can also find his singing performances on Spotify under the name of the fictional serial group Eclipse:-D. And singer 10CM also released a great OST song - Spring snow.

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